52 
BUFFEL-HEADED DUCK. 
changing into a shining purple on the crown and sides of the neck; 
from the eyes backward passes a broad band of pure white ; iris 
of the eye dark ; back, wings, and part of the scapulars, black ; 
rest of the scapulars, lateral band along the wing, and whole breast, 
snowy white ; belly, vent, and tail-coverts, dusky white ; tail point- 
ed, and of a hoary color. 
The female is considerably less than the male, and has the 
plumage of the head but slightly tumid ; the head, neck and upper 
parts of the body, and wings, are sooty black, darkest on the 
crown ; side of the head marked with a small oblong spot of white ; 
bill dusky ; lower part of the neck ash, tipt with white ; belly dull 
white ; vent cinereous , outer edges of six of the secondaries, and 
their incumbent coverts, white, except the tips of the latter, which 
are black ; legs and feet a livid blue ; tail hoary brown ; length of 
the intestines three feet six inches. This is the Spirit Duck of Pen- 
nant, so called from its dexterity in diving (Arct. Zool. No. 487.), 
likewise the Little Brown Duck of Catesby (Nat. Hist. Car. pi. 98.). 
This species is said to come into Budson’s bay about Severn 
river in June, and make their nests in trees in the woods, near 
ponds.* The young males during the first year are almost exactly 
like the females in color. 
Latham. 
